Winter sports enthusiasts are an optimistic lot. Everyone, it seems, is ready to put the dark, dismal last winter behind them and look forward to better, snowier days in the future. Hopefully, the very near future. We've had our first tiny tastes of snow and it was sweet indeed.

Over much of New England, when snow did come, it came late and left early. Remember the 80-degree weather at the end of March that whisked away the last remnants just when we should have been enjoying long, bright days on the deepest snow of the year? Yup, I'd like to forget that, too.

The long-range weather predictions aren't much help. One forecast is predicting deeper-than-average snowfalls in the northeast. But even they are saying the mid-Atlantic is going to get more snow than New England, which will have more "mixed rain and snow systems." Yuck! We had enough of that last year.

Once the snow actually does start to fall (and, hopefully, stay around), there are two good web resources to help you pinpoint where the snow is deepest and most fun.

The one is at noaa.gov/nerfc/ graphics/snowmaps/sd1_today. jpg is a colored map that, sadly, is all gray and dreary as I write this. More intriguing is the interactive map at nohrsc.noaa. gov/interactive/html/map.html. With this one you can set it to show either snow depth or water content (to see where the powder is), and you can zoom in for a closer look at any particular area that interests you. Sadly, even West Virginia, which got a lot of snow from the recent storms, is now largely bare ground.

I think I speak for all of New England's Nordic and backcountry alpine skiers, snowshoers, Nordic skaters, mushers, winter campers, sledders, snowtubers and snowmobilers when I say, "I hope it snows soon." Life isn't a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

Gearing up for a non-winter

Gift-giving season is coming and just in case we get a repeat of last year's non-winter, this seems like a good time to discuss what you really needed to get out and enjoy a "marginal" winter.

You absolutely need a waterproof outer layer that absolutely keeps you dry in a 34-degree downpour. Cold rain is much harder to deal with than snow, and presents much more danger of hypothermia. If you want to be warm, comfortable and safe and still get outdoors in bad weather, you need a bombproof hooded jacket and pants. Oh and by the way, good raingear is just as useful for snow (if and when that falls) and for keeping the inevitable winter winds at bay.

You can spend a fortune on raingear, but I've been pleased with house-brand gear from L.L. Bean, EMS, and REI, and with the jackets from Red Ledge (www.redledge.com). For $200 (less if you watch the sales) you can get a good jacket with a hood, and a pair of waterproof pants that'll keep you going outdoors in less-than-pleasant weather .

Waterproof, insulated hiking boots were another necessity last winter. You didn't need the warmth of "pac" boots, but you did need the ankle support of a hiking boot on rocky, often icy trails. Fit is always the primary consideration with boots, so it's hard to make specific recommendations. Most of last winter, I used a pair of mid-weight waterproof leather/Gore-Tex boots from Irish Setter (www.irishsetter.com) which fit me like they were custom-made for my feet. Lowa, L.L. Bean, Kamik. and Columbia also make quality insulated, waterproof lightweight hikers that I've either used or seen perform well.

Hiking poles of some sort are even more useful in winter than they are in summer.

Finally, you simply couldn't get outdoors (even in your own driveway) last winter without traction aids of some sort. There are lots on the market, but my recommendation is to go for maximum versatility and ease of use.

For the past several years I've been using Microspikes ($45), from Kahtoola (www.kahtoola.com) which have a heavy-duty polymer rubber harness that's easy to put on over your boots and grips tightly. Hardened chains with 10 three-eighths-inch steel spikes provide phenomenal traction on all but very steep ice (where you need crampons, ice axe and self-arrest skills to travel safely).

Last "winter," I tested the similar Trail Crampons ($60) from Hillsound (www.hillsound.com). The spikes are slightly longer and the spike attachment is more rigid than the Kahtoolas and they worked extremely well.

YakTrax has also brought out a similar product called the XTR Extreme ($60) which also worked well. Honestly, any of the three will get you out and moving when you'd otherwise be stuck at home.

Post a reader comment

We encourage your feedback and dialog. Please be civil and respectful.If you're witty, to the point and quotable, your reader comments may also be included on the Around the Towns page of The Sunday Republican. Readers must be registered and logged in to post comments on the site. Registration is free. Click Here to register.
A Subscription is not required to post comments only a Registration.